What is Rohit Sharma's record in Test cricket at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune?
Team India captain Rohit Sharma will be keen to lead from the front when the hosts take on New Zealand in the second Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium (MCA) in Pune from Thursday, October 24. Rohit was in the firing line as India went down to the Kiwis by eight wickets in Bengaluru. After they were bowled out for 46 in their first innings, the hosts were fighting a losing battle.
The Indian skipper played a horrible slog to be cleaned up by Tim Southee for two off 16 balls in the first innings. The dismissal more or less set the tone of the Test match as India kept losing wickets. Rohit played a defiant hand in the second essay, bringing up a half-century. He was, however, dismissed for 52 off 63, bowled by Ajaz Patel in somewhat unlucky fashion.
Looking at the Indian captain's record at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, he has played only one Test at the venue. The right-handed batter was dismissed for 14 off 35 balls against South Africa in October 2019. The opener nicked a brute of a delivery from Kagiso Rabada to the keeper. He did not need to bat again as India won the game by an innings and 137 runs.
Rohit has played seven one-dayers in Pune, but possesses a poor record at the venue, scoring 195 runs at an average of 27.85. The 37-year-old's best of 48 came off 40 balls against Bangladesh in the 2023 ODI World Cup and featured seven fours and two sixes. He also scored 42 off 47 deliveries against Australia in October 2013, a game the visitors went on to win by 72 runs.
As for T20Is, the opening batter has played only one game at the MCA stadium in Pune. He was dismissed for a second-ball duck against Sri Lanka in Pune in February 2016. Rohit spooned a catch to mid-off off debutant pacer Kasun Rajitha's bowling. The Lankans went on to win the game by five wickets.
Tough decisions for Rohit Sharma heading into the 2nd Test against New Zealand in Pune
While Rohit would like to improve his record with the bat in Pune, he also has some tough calls to make as captain heading into the second Test against New Zealand. With Shubman Gill likely to make a comeback to the playing XI, India will have to leave out one of KL Rahul and last-match centurion Sarfaraz Khan.
There might be some changes in the bowling department as well. Mohammed Siraj has looked off-color lately and might make way for Akash Deep. It also remains to be seen if India stick to the same three spinners who played in Bengaluru.